Electrolytic cell



Patented Mar. 28, I899.

H. H. DOW.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

(Application filed Ear. 18

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

/N VENTO)? 4mm Wffrfg A7TOHNEYS.

THE "cams PETERS co, PHo-ro-u'mo WASHINGTON. n. c.

No. 62l,907. Patentad Mar. 28, I899. H. H. DOW.

ELEcTBoLYTIc can.

(Applicgtion filed In. 5, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Shasta-Sheet 2.

Fl Eh DI- Syn/1f ATT OHNE Y n4: mums PEYERS co. PriOTQ-LKTHEL. msnwcvow. n c.

mes.

ATENT HERBERT H. DOV, OF MIDLAND, MICHIGAN.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,907, dated March 28, 1899.

Application filed March 5, 1897.

To aZZ whom. it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT II. DOW, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Midland, county of Midland, and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrolytic Cells, of which the follow ing is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principleof the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure I represents a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view of my improved electrolytic cell. Fig. II represents a similar view of a second form thereof. Fig. III is a similar view of a third form of my cell, and Fig. IV is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 4 at of Fig. I.

As illustrated in Fig. I, the cell consists of the inner inclosed receptacle A and the outer receptacle B, A being the electrolytic cell proper and resting upon the bottom of the outer receptacle B, communication with which is cut off as completely as is possible by means of air and water tight joints.

Electrodes E pass into each compartment of the cell through the practically water-tight glands D, and consist of long round carbons similar in shape to large electric-light carbons. These electrodes have electrical communication with the main conductor 0 through the long flexible copper-wire connections 0, which are soldered to both the carbons and the main conductor.

The cell is divided by a short depending partition a, from which extends a diaphragm a of a construction adapted for treating the particular electrolyte used. Pipes F lead from the upper part of each compartment and serve to conduct away gaseous products of electrolysis. V

To fill the cell, the plug J is removed and both the outer and inner receptacle filled with the electrolyte until it begins to overflow from the trap II. Then the plug is inserted and a further quantity of electrolyte admitted to of the current, While the outer is not.

Serial No. 625,920. (No model.)

the outer compartment until it entirely surrounds and submerges the inner compartment, glands, and pipe-joints. When the desired height is obtained, the electrolyte is shut off. Exhaust-cocks G and G are provided for draining off the liquid from both receptacles when required. The trap is so arranged that a portion a of the cell is left unfilled and acts as a gas -receptacle into which the gaseous products are given off and from which they are conducted by the. said pipes F, the mixture of the gases from the anode and cathode compartments being prevented by the aforementioned partition (1. The outer receptacle is divided into two electrically-independent compartments 1) by the wall or partition a one electrode passing through each. The electric current then is enabled to utilize the liquid in the cell for a portion of the circuit, but cannot find a passage-way through the outer liquid, and in consequence the inner liquid is subject to the electrolytic action It is now proper to designate the inner liquid only as the electrolyte, while the outer liquid is a liquid identical with the electrolyte before electrolyzation.

By the above arrangement all escape of gas from the inner gas-receptacle, excepting as prearranged through the pipes F,is prevented, inasmuch as the-pressure of the outer liquid all around the receptacle is always greater than the pressure of the gases within. Thus as soon as a leak occurs the outer liquid enters the cell, and should the'leak be of any considerable magnitude it can be immediately detected by a fall in the level of the outer liquid and by the overflow which will occur at the trap H, and a proper remedy can be immediately applied.

' As a very large amount of electrolytic apparatus. is required for a comparatively small production of chlorin, an occasional small leak in the ordinary form of apparatus is of very great importance, as it will either allow a great part of the chlorin to escape or if the apparatus is placed under a slight suction the chlorin-gas will be very much diluted with air. By my method of completely surrounding the gas by the liquid except at the exitpipes F and making the pressure greater on the outside than on the inside of the inner cell A there can be no possible loss of gas through leaks or dilution of gas through admission of air.

In Fig. II, I have shown a form of cell in which only the top of the inner compartment is protected from gas leaks by a liquid covering, and in Fig. III, I have shown the same form of cell as is illustrated in Fig. I, but having the electrode entering the bottom of the cell.

The advantage of the forms of cells shown in Figs. I and II is that the electrolyte to a certain extent enters the pores of the anode in the outer compartment and flows by capillary action through the carbon and prevents the more corrosive liquids of the inner compartment from passing up through the carbon by capillary action and eating off the metallic connections. This passage of non-corrosive liquid through the carbon also tends to preserve the carbon itself by preventing the liquids that contain some hypochlorite from diffusing into the pores of the carbon and destroying it.

My method of soldering the flexible conductor to the carbon is to first electroplate the end of the carbon with a thick coating of copper. This is then tinned over by immersing it first in soldering solution and then in melted solder. The copper flexible connection can now be soldered to the tinned carbon without difficulty and an excellent electrical contact secured. Clamp connections between conductor and carbon are not satisfactory, as the corrosive atmosphere soon prevents good contact. My soldered connections are very satisfactory and reliable, but they are expensive if they have to be resoldered every time a carbon corrodes off in the electrolyte. By my arrangement of flexible connections,however, which allows each carbon to be fed forward as fast as consumed, one soldering only will be required during the time that several lengths of immersed carbons are being consumed,and cheapness is thus combined with a maximum of reliability.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means covered by any one of the following claims be employed. Surrounding the point of entrance of the electrodes with a protecting liquid makes it possible to feed the carbons forward without causing gas leaks.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention-- 1. In an electrolytic cell inclosing electrodes and electrolyte, the combination with a porous electrode extending outward through the wall of the cell, of a liquid having contact with the electrode-pores without the electrolyte, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electrolytic cell inclosing electrode and electrolyte, the combination with a porous electrode extending out of the electrolyte, of a liquid interposed between the unimmersed end of said electrode and the electrolyte and in contact with said electrode, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electrolytic cell inclosing electrodes and electrolyte, the combination with a porous electrode extending outward through the wall of the cell, of a liquid interposed between the outer end of said electrode and its point of entrance into said cell, said liquid being in contact with the pores of the electrode, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electrolytic cell inclosing electrodes and electrolyte, the combination with a porous electrode extending outward through the wall of the cell, of a liquid surrounding and in contact with said electrode outside of the cell, substantially as set forth.

5. In an electrolytic cell inclosing electrodes and electrolyte, the combination with a porous electrode having a metallic connection, of a liquid having communication with the pores of said electrode and interposed between said connection and the electrolyte, substantially as set forth.

6. In an electrolytic cell inclosing electrodes and electrolyte, the combination of a porous electrode extending outward through the wall of the cell, a liquid surrounding and in contact with said electrode outside of the cell, and means for insulating said liquid out- 1 side of the cell from the liquid inside the cell excepting through the porous electrode, whereby a flow of current between the latter and the outer liquid is prevented,- substantially as set forth.

7. In an electrolytic cell, the combination of an outer receptacle, an inner cell, aliquid in said receptacle, a positive conductor extending through said liquid into said cell, a negative conductor extending into said cell, and means for insulating the liquid surrounding said positive conductor from said negative conductor except through the electrolyte in said cell, substantially as set forth.

8. In an electrolytic cell inclosing electrodes and electrolyte, the combination with a porous electrode extending outward through the wall of the cell, of a liquid surrounding and in contact with said electrode outside of the cell, said liquid having its surface elevated above the surface of the electrolyte, whereby a tendency for liquid to leak into the cell around the carbon or through its pores, is produced, substantially as set forth.

9. In electrolytic apparatus, the combination with an outer receptacle containing a liquid divided into two electrically-insulated portions,of an inner cell covered by said liquid and having one electrode passing through each portion of said liquid, substantially as set forth.

10. In electrolytic apparatus, the combination with a cell having a closed gas-receptacle, the Walls of which are completely surrounded by an electrolyte, said surrounding electrolyte divided into two independent parts, of electrodes extending through said parts, the electrode passing through one part being of a polarity opposite to that of the electrode passing through the other part, sub stantially as set forth.

11. In electrolytic apparatus, the combination of an outer receptacle, of an inner cell, a liquid in said outer receptacle covering said cell, electrodes passing through said liquid into said cell, and an insulating-partition in said outer receptacle whereby electrolysis is prevented in said receptacle, substantially as set forth.

12. In electrolytic apparatus, thecombina tion of an outer receptacle, an inner cell, an electrolyte in said receptacle, electrodes passin g through said electrolyte into said cell, and a non-porous insulating-partition dividing said liquid into two independent parts whereabove said gland, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 22d day of February, 1897.

HERBERT I-I. DOW.

Attest:

H. L. FAIROHILD, DANIEL E. MALONEY. 

